1/48 4010-100 UPC Covered Wagon - With Driver / Two Oxen / Horse And Rider - (ex Adams / Revell / Miniature Masterpieces /Life-Like)
Vaccuform Model Kit, Box Condition: Good-
A rare model that is very finely engraved and well detailed. Never started. The parts are still in the internal factory sealed bags and includes instructions. UPC stood for Universal Powermaster Corporation which was based out of New York City, NY. UPC did not cut their own molds, but either leased molds or bought kits already molded from other manufacturers and re-boxed them in the USA. Scott Eidson, the famous artist best known for his artwork with Revell, also did UPC box art in the 1960s including this model. All UPC production ended in the 1970s. This kit has a fascinating history. It started life as one of the 'Miniature Masterpieces,' which was the brainchild of an alliance between Lou Glasser (Revell) and Steve Adams (Adams Action Models) in 1953. Although having the appearance of an independent company, the firm was run by Revell right down to the prototypes being made at the Revell plant. However, there was no evidence of the parent company on the surface. The State Coach of England was the first kit, issued in 1953. More kits of excellent quality followed. Revell completely took over the line in 1954, making the one-year original issues very rare. However, while Revell was now issuing them under their name, Adams was also issuing the line in 1958. Production was discontinued by both companies in the early 1960s; the molds then ended up with UPC. By the early 1970s, Life-Like ended up with many of the Adams molds and wound up owning the complete, original 'Miniature Masterpieces' line. Life-Like reissued them several times in that decade but the current whereabout of the molds are not known.
$54.00